November 2003

The South (Lies Just North From Here)

MP3 Link

The mockingbird sings
as he boughs to the bloom
he won’t take your home
he’ll just work on your tunes

still they packed up the cars
from both far and near
to sing the “south
lies just north from here”

the old muddy banks
turned to stone with the boom
and laid a foundation
and a home for your tomb

let’s shot to the moon
have these walking trees cleared
and sing “the south
lies just north from here”

the ol’ boys just drifted
far out to sea
while the new tide turned red
and made a line for the beach

We all watched them stumble
and we trembled with fear
and sang “the south
lies just north from here”

you ain’t whistlin’ dixie
you’re just singing along
to the song of the south
till the old ghosts are gone

(break)

The screen door don’t squeak
on the ol’ dusty floor
and the songs of my youth
they don’t ring true no more

so I pulled up the carpet
and turned true with tears
and sang “the south
lies just north from here”